Welcome to the home of Australia's largest union the SDA
The SDA's core business is to negotiate and protect your wages and conditions with your employer. We're front and centre if you need help at work and to answer workplace enquiries - no matter how big or small. You can trust the SDA to deliver when it comes to pay rises and ensuring everyone gets a fair go at work. If things go wrong in the workplace, the SDA is a friend you can't afford to be without.
It doesn't cost it pays to belong
Every worker has the right to join a union. Union membership is important for all workers, especially young workers. It is against the law for an employer to stop you from joining a union. Becoming a member of the SDA is simple, just submit an application online or contact the SDA to request an application form.
Contact us to arrange the most suitable option
Current Fees
20 Hours +
- Working 20 hours or more per week
10 to 20 Hours
- Working between 10 and 20 hours per week
Under 10 Hours
- Working less than 10 hours per week
The amount you pay weekly could be less than a coffee or a burger!
Remember - your union fees are tax deductible!
Latest News
Seeking Leave for Domestic Violence
The ACTU is seeking paid domestic violence leave on behalf of all Award employees.
Each week, one woman dies as a result of domestic violence in Australia.
ABS figures show that two thirds of the 400,000 plus people (mostly women) who experience domestic violence each year are workers.
Employment and financial stability is critical to escaping a violent and abusive relationship.
Paid domestic violence leave recognises that workers experiencing domestic violence have often exhausted their personal leave entitlements, and can least afford to take unpaid leave at a time when financial security is critical.
WORKING TOGETHER
Domestic violence is an issue which can have a significant impact on our members at work, and needs to be taken seriously by all members of our community, including employers.
Unions, including the SDA, and employers have negotiated over 500 workplace agreements which provide domestic violence leave. As a result of this, more than 1.6 million employees currently have access to paid domestic violence leave across a wide range of industries.
EXTENDING THESE PROVISIONS
The ACTU wants to extend this entitlement to all employees, and has lodged a claim in the Fair Work Commission for a clause to be included in all Awards.
The ACTU claim:
- Will directly benefit more than six million workers;
- Provides for 10 days paid domestic violence leave for workers to attend court appearances, medical and legal appointments and make safety and re-location arrangements;
- Allows employees to request a change in working arrangements, such as start and finish times and other safety measures such as changing work email and phone
Some employers have made technical objections to the ACTU clause, which must be dealt with by the Fair Work Commission before the merit of the case can be argued.
The SDA will keep you informed of progress on this matter.
If you are experiencing or know of someone in your workplace who may be experiencing domestic violence contact the SDA. We can help!
If you would like more information please visit the Domestic Violence page in members section of the website.
Defending Your Right to Penalty Rates
Members, we are now half way through the year with the SDA Tasmanian Branch dealing with attacks on the reduction or abolition of penalty rates – attacks which are becoming more prevalent.
In May, a Select Committee of the Legislative Council resolved to hold and report upon the challenges surrounding the growth of business enterprises within Tasmania, with evidence and submissions forwarded to the Productivity Commission in regard to their inquiry.
The Productivity Commission has recommended that penalty rates be abolished, which has the potential to force an effective pay cut of up to $300 per week for a retail worker, without any offset.
The SDA submitted that the rationale of payment of penalty rates for work performed in unsociable hours such as on evenings, nights and weekends is to compensate employees for the disadvantages to which workers are subject to when working such hours.
The SDA has always supported penalty rates as an integral part of the wages system. The SDA is totally opposed to the abolition of penalty rates in the modern award system.
The view that higher rates ought to be diminished on weekends because of deregulated shop trading hours is flawed and incorrect.
Further, Labor has established the Fair Work Taskforce, a Senate Committee that launched its first Hearing in Launceston on Monday 29 June at the Grand Chancellor Hotel.
Four Senators,including Tasmanian Senators Helen Polley and Catryna Bylick, took submissions from SDA workers who were keen to voice their concerns about the impact the Abbott policies are having on jobs, families and communities as well as important workplace entitlements like penalty rates and the minimum wage.
The majority of workers in Australia working within the lowest-paid industries are predominantly female, young and employed on a casual or part-time basis.
The ability of low-paid individuals to improve their position is limited, and is recognised as such by the ILO Convention to which Australia is a signatory.
Balancing the needs of workers and employers requires a fair and strong system, underpinned by supportive legislation.
The key purpose of the Fair Work Act is to deliver such a system, and our members who gathered at the Taskforce Hearing were able to demonstrate how their incomes would be reduced if the penalties they receive were removed, bringing them almost to the poverty line.
Discount Movie Ticket for SDA Members
Members of the SDA can go the movies at great discounted prices! Head to the members section of the website to purchase Village, CMAX and Metro Cinema tickets.
Younger Workers Celebrate Equal Pay Victory
SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas welcomes a massive win for 20-year-old retail workers, who will be paid the full adult wage under the General Retail Industry Award following the Fair Work Commission ruling today.
Up to 40,000 20-year-olds, across the country will benefit from this decision.
Those affected will receive about an extra $1.80 per hour in their pay packet once the decision handed down by the Commission comes into full effect.
Peter Malinauskas said the decision reflected the overwhelming support behind the campaign, with tens of thousands of supporters willing to take a stand for fair pay.
“This is a huge win for retail workers and this is not something we could have achieved without the support and hard work of our SDA members.
“Retail workers, of all ages, truly believe that you should be paid for the work you do, not how old you are.
“The purpose of the SDA is to protect the wages and working conditions of our members and that’s why we decided to take action against this discriminatory practice.
“We were successful in the Fair Work Commission because it doesn’t make sense to pay 18, 19 and 20-year-olds a lower rate of pay than their co-workers who are performing the exact same duties.”
This decision means 20-year-old retail workers will receive 95 per cent of the full adult rate from 1 July this year and 100 per cent at 1 July 2015.
The SDA will now look to getting the full adult wage for 18 and 19-year-old retail workers.
“This was just the first step, we will continue to campaign for 100% Pay at 18+ and I am confident that we can make this happen,” said Peter.
Currently under the General Retail Industry Award, 20-year-olds are paid 10 per cent less, 19-year-olds are paid 20 per cent less and 18-year-olds are paid 30 per cent less.
The SDA has been campaigning since early 2013 to change the Award for 100% Pay at 18+.
